Uganda Journal of Agricultural Science (UJAS)
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Socio-economic aspects of goat farming enterprise in Teso region, Uganda
Get PDFA study was conducted to document the socio-economic aspects of goat production in Teso sub- region of Uganda. Data were collected by using a questionnaire administered to 114 purposively selected goat owners in five districts. Majority (87%) of de fecto household heads were male. About 41.2% of the farmers were aged 51 years and more. The average number of goats per household was 9.2 ± 6.38. Most farmers (63.2%) owned five or less acres of land. Indigenous goats were mainly acquired by buying (85%) while exotic goats and their crosses were acquired from government programs (34%). Goats have a number of roles, though mainly kept as a source of regular cash income (98.2%), followed by socio-cultural values (69.3%). A large percentage of farmers (67%) earned UShs 150,000 or less from goat production. The biggest problem in marketing of goats was high taxation. Majority of goat owners were men (84.86%) but a few cases (average 15.14%) of women that owned goats independently were also reported. Women and children participated less in decision making, although they were responsible for many goat production related activities. In conclusion, goat production plays an important role in improving the livelihoods of the Teso communities. There is need to encourage and develop the participation of women and youths in the goat production and marketing sector, and promote commercialisation so that farmers can increase their present holdings for improved profitability
Exploring cost-effective maize integrated weed management approaches under intensive farming systems
Get PDFSeveral production constraints have led to low yields (< 2.5 t ha-1) in maize (Zea mays L.) in Uganda, among which are weeds. This study investigated the most cost-effective integrated weed management (IWM) approach in maize in eastern Uganda. An experiment was conducted at Ikulwe station, Mayuge in 2011 and 2012 using nine integrated weed management (IWM) approaches. Results showed yields (P < 0.001) in decreasing order of three hand-hoe weedings (3hh), two hand-hoe weedings (2hh), pre-emergence application of atrazine, followed by one hand-hoe weeding (pre-Atz+1hh) and post-emergence application of atrazine, followed by one hand hoe weeding (post-Atz+1hh) (5.9 - 6.4 t ha-1) and lastly, where no weeding was conducted (2.7 t ha-1). Returns on investment (ROI) were highest under pre-Atz+1hh and 2hh (180%), followed by post Atz+1hh (167%). The no weeding treatment registered the lowest value (67%). In 2012 and 2013, the IWM approaches with highest ROI (> 160%) were established on-farm in Bugiri, Kamuli and Iganga districts with one hand-hoe weeding (1hh) as the control. The pre-Atz+1hh produced the highest grain yield (4.5 t ha-1; P < 0.01) and ROI (105%); while 1hh gave the lowest grain yield (3.4 t ha-1) and the lowest ROI (60%). Therefore, pre-emergence application of atrazine (2 l ha-1), followed by one hand-hoe weeding (28 days after planting) is the most cost-effective IWM option in maize
Evaluation and delivery of disease-resistant and micronutrientdense sweetpotato varieties to farmers in Uganda
Get PDFUganda is among the African countries reported to be at high risk of Vitamin A deficiency (VAD) with prevalence of VAD among children and women at 28 and 23%, respectively. Promoting orange-fleshed sweetpotato (OFSP) (Ipomoea batatas) rich in Vitamin A will play a significant role in combating VAD. However, sweetpotato virus disease is a major constraint to OFSP. The National Crops Resources Research Institute (NaCRRI) under took research on improvement, evaluation and delivery of promising OFSP to farmers. Selected parents with complimentary traits are planted to a crossing block annually and true seed is harvested and used to establish nurseries the plants of which are individually screened for reaction to SPVD, Alternaria blight, and depth of the orange colour in the root flesh. Promising selections are evaluated through a series of verification multi-locational trials on-station. Selections are subsequently advanced on- farm to test their performance under farmer managed conditions and for their acceptability by farmers and consumers for both food and other uses. To date nine OFSP varieties have been released and disseminated to farmers.Generally, most of the released OFSP varieties are susceptible to weevils (Cylas spp.), but moderately resistant to both SPVD and Alternaria blight
Culturing the African lungfish in Uganda: Effects of exogenous fish feed on growth performance in tanks
Get PDFThe availability of African lungfish (Protopterus aethiopicus) in many communities in Uganda is declining. Indigenous efforts to culture this fish usually produce poor yields and depend on feeding fish fry, minced meat, and leftover food. This study evaluates three formulated diets (diet- 1, diet-2, diet-3) fed to wild caught lungfish fingerlings reared in indoor tanks for 77 days. Experimental fish gradually accepted sinking pellets, and marginal increases in average body weight were observed. Mean (± SE) final weight (15.86 ± 0.80 g) for fish fed on diet-3 was significantly higher (p < 0.05) than fish fed diet-1 and diet-2. Specific growth rates (SGR) for diet- 3 were significantly higher (p < 0.05) than diet-1, and marginally more than diet-2 (0.37 ± 0.04 %/ d). Feed conversions were similar (p >0.05), ranging from 1.61 ± 0.26 to 2.07 ± 0.11. Survivals after an 11-week culture were relatively low (< 60%), but generally increased (R2 = 0.667, P = 0.007) with increasing dietary proteins. Diet-3 had a significant higher survival rate (p< 0.05) than diet- 1 and diet-2. Significant growth performance was attained with diet-3. This study demonstrated that sinking fish feed pellets can be used to culture wild-caught African fingerlings in captivity
Prevalence of sorghum anthracnose in different agroecologies of Uganda
Get PDFNine major sorghum growing agro-ecologies of Uganda were surveyed to establish the sorghum anthracnose incidence and severity. Hierarchical sampling was used. Severity of anthracnose in the field was rated on a scale of 1-5 where 1= low severity and 5 = high severity. Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) results showed that there was variation in incidence and severity sorghum anthracnose disease. Both incidence and severity varied significantly (P<0.05) between agroecologies reflecting the effect of different cropping pattern on sorghum anthracnose epiphytotics. Districts within agroecologies showed a significant variation in both incidence (P<0.05) and severity (P<0.05) of sorghum anthracnose. This might be attributed to the different crop management practices carried out by the farmers within an agroecology. Similar observations were made for fields within the districts with significant differences occurring at P<0.05 for both incidence and severity. Variation in the prevalence, incidence and severity of the anthracnose epidemic in the sorghum growing agroecologies of Uganda suggest that sorghum anthracnose is a major threat to production in virtually all agro-ecologies in Uganda. Moreover the high severities suggest cultivation of very susceptible varieties. The cultivation of resistant varieties will support management of the disease
Seasonal effects on potato production under conventional and small seed plot technologies in the Mt. Elgon zone
Get PDFPotato production in the Mt. Elgon zone of Uganda is constrained by seasonal variations, lack of clean seed and the challenges of pests and diseases. Consequently, yield hardly exceeds 2.9 t ha-1 yet a potential of 10 t ha-1 can be realised. This study was conducted to determine the effect of seasons and the small seed plot technology in enhancing seed potato production in the Mt. Elgon zone. On-farm trials were conducted in Bududa, Sironko, Manafwa, Kapchorwa and Kween districts in the first and second seasons of 2011. Results showed higher potato yield in Kapchorwa and Kween in the second season compared to the other districts. However, Bududa district has potential to achieve relatively higher potato yield in both seasons. Number of tubers were more in small seed plots than conventional potato planting with significant effects (P < 0.05) in Bududa and Kapchorwa. Number of tubers with bacterial wilt were higher in conventional potato planting than the small seed plots, with Manafwa and Sironko registering the highest incidence. Though bacterial wilt and late blight incidence was not significantly different in the two seasons, infected tubers for both pathogens were more in Manafwa and Sironko for bacterial wilt, and Bududa and Kapchorwa for late blight. Principal component analysis revealed that tuber numbers and potato tuber moth damage was more associated with environment in Kween. The results demonstrated that potato productivity in the Mt. Elgon zone is higher in the second season, with the small seed plot technology being favourable for small land holdings than conventional potato planting
Anthelmintic efficacy of Albendazole, Levamisole and Ivermectin against gastrointestinal nematode (GIN) infections in goats on natural pastures in Gomba District, Uganda
Get PDFEfficacy of albendazole (ABZ), levamisole (LVM) and ivermectin (IVM) against gastrointestinal nematodes (GIN) was evaluated in commercial goat farms in Gomba District, Uganda. On the farms, goats were randomly assigned to four groups (18-30 goats each). The first group served as the untreated control, the second was treated with ABZ (5 mg kg-1 BW), the third with LVM (7.5 mg kg-1 BW) and the fourth with IVM (0.2 mg kg-1 BW) at doses recommended by respective drug manufacturers. Fecal egg counts, expressed as eggs per gram and larval cultures were done on day zero before treatment and every 7 days after treatment. Anthelmintic efficacy was determined by the Fecal Egg Count Reduction (FECR) test. The observed FECR were 77.3%, 85% and 83%, for ABZ, LVM and IVM, respectively. Though FECR in all treated animals were significantly (P<0.05) lower than controls, there was no FECR of 95% or more. Coprocultures showed larvae of haemonchus species in albendazole treated goats. Continued shading (FECR <95%) of fecal eggs in all treated goats is indicative of anthelmintic resistance in the goat farming sector in Uganda. Further studies are needed to clarify the state of efficacy of commonly used anthelmintics in the different farming systems in Uganda
Effect of temperature on the development, reproduction and mortality of the sweetpotato weevil Cylas brunneus (Fabricius) (Coleoptera: Brentidae)
Get PDFThe sweetpotato weevil, Cylas brunneus, is a serious insect pest of sweetpotato (Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam.) in East and West Africa. Knowledge on the influence of temperature on development, reproduction and mortality of this pest is important in understanding its potential population growth and geographical distribution. Such knowledge is a pre-requisite for developing pest control strategies for different agro-ecological zones. The effect of temperature on the development of immature stages, reproduction and mortality of C. brunneus was studied at six constant (15, 20, 25, 30, 35 and 40°C) and at fluctuating temperature range of 22.9 ± 8.7°C. Results obtained indicated that at 15°C and 40°C, there was no development and reproduction of C. brunneus. At 35°C, only 46% of eggs hatched after 1.78 ± 0.20 days but the larvae from these eggs did not pupate. Egg-laying was not possible at 15 °C, 35 °C and 40 °C. The developmental period from egg to adultat 15 °C, 20 °C, 30 °C and 35 °C was 59.43 ± 2.17 days, 49.00 ± 0.93 days, 34.70 ± 0.45 days and 28.67 ± 0.46 days, respectively and tended to decrease significantly with increasing temperature. Similar trend was observed for larval and pupae development time. There was 100 % egg mortality at 15°C and 40 °C. Larval mortality was highest (46 %) at 35 °C and lowest (18 %) at 25°C. After emergence, adults had a pre-oviposition period that ranged from 5.73 ± 0.21 days at 30 oC to 16.17 ± 0.91 at 20°C. C. brunneus laid the highest number of eggs (93.67 ± 10.54 eggs) at 30°C and least eggs (26.33 ± 2.84 eggs) at 20°C. Based on these life table data, the optimal temperature for C. brunneus population growth and development was noted to be 25°C
Genetic characterisation of Ugandan strains of Colletotrichum sublineolum using ISSR makers
Get PDFColletotrichum sublineolum, the causal agent of sorghum anthracnose, presents high variability, genetic instability and host specialisation, hence rapidly breaking down resistance. In Uganda, no population studies of Colletotrichum sublineolum have been reported hence there is limited information on the nature of epidemics and pathogen. The present study aims at investigating the genetic diversity within 124 Colletotrichum sublineolum isolates from Uganda. The inter- simple sequence repeats (ISSR) produced 37 polymorphic loci and neighbor-joining analysis revealed two major groups. There were no major groups among all isolates in studies. Analysis of molecular variation (AMOVA) based on 7 agro-ecologies of Uganda revealed the presence of a population structure, (ΦFST = 0.08 P = 0.05) leading to acceptance of null hypothesis stating a presence of population differentiation between the agro-ecologies in Uganda. Gene flow between agro-ecologies was 5.75 calculated from ÔFST. The results of the AMOVA analysis revealed the allelic variation (92.5%) was shared between populations. Average gene diversity over all loci ranged from 0.192 to 0.335 showing high diversity within population rather than between populations. The numbers of polymorphic loci were similar for the population studied
Effects of cage fish culture on water quality and selected biological communities in northern Lake Victoria, Uganda
Get PDFGrowing of fish in cages is currently practiced in Uganda and was first introduced in northern Lake Victoria in 2010. An environment monitoring study was undertaken at Source of the Nile, a private cage fish farm, in Napoleon gulf, northern Lake Victoria. In-situ measurements of key environmental (temperature, dissolved oxygen, pH and conductivity) and biological (algae, zooplankton, macro-benthos) variables were made at three transects: Transect 1- the site with fish cages (WC); transect 2- upstream of the fish cages (USC-control) and Transect 3- downstream of the cages (DSC). Upstream and Downstream sites were located approximately 1.0 km from the fish cages. Environment parameters varied spatially and temporally but were generally within safe ranges for freshwater habitats. Higher concentrations of SRP (0.015-0.112 Mg/L) occurred at USC during February, September and at DSC in November; NO2-N (0.217- 0.042 mg/L) at USC and DSC in February and November; NH4-N (0.0054- 0.065 Mg/L) at WC and DSC in February, May and November. Algal bio-volumes were significantly higher at WC (F (2,780)=4.619; P=0.010). Zooplankton species numbers were consistently lower at WC with a significant difference compared to the control site (P=0.032). Macro-benthos abundance was consistently higher at the site with cages where mollusks and low-oxygen and pollution-tolerant chironomids were the dominant group. Higher algal biomass, concentration of low-oxygen/pollution-tolerant macro-benthos and depressed zooplankton diversity at WC suggested impacts from the fish cages on aquatic biota